“He got in a fight?” Shane shakes his head, irritation clear in his tone.
“He did. He’s probably sleeping off a hangover since I called off filming for now. We’re going to do something we haven’t done before, but we’re bringing in another bachelor.”
“What?” Everyone starts talking at once.
“It’s never been done,” Sal says and goes on to explain, “but we can’t continue with London. I can’t have fights on set—actual fights. Catfights are fine. But not actual fights.”
“Who’s the new contestant?” I ask.
“Austin,” Sal says, and I swear Shane almost faints.
“What?”
“We’ve talked to him and Timber,” Sal says, trying to smooth things over. “His younger kids aren’t his, either. We didn’t know that before all the stuff went down with Timber. She’s good with it. Ever is on her way over so we can talk to her as a family.”
“Can I come in?” Austin asks, knocking on the doorframe.
“Yeah.” Shane scoots over so he can sit next to him.
“The kids you were raising aren’t yours?” I ask.
“Yeah. During the divorce, she asked for child support, which I have no problem with, but my attorney asked for a paternity test. We both had to go to the office so both attorneys could see us do the swab, and then a judge took them and handed them off to the lab. Found out I wasn’t the dad of any of them. I’ll give her some allowance but that’s it. It sucks for Timber because she thought they were her siblings. My attorney fought for no child support. She knows who their father is, but I was raising them while she was already getting child support.”
“Wow,” I mutter.
“You’re telling me,” Austin agrees.
“You’re okay with this?” Shane asks.
“I hope I just have your love and support. I’m okay with it. I know I never told you about my preferences.”
“It’s your life, and we don’t care,” Axel says.
“I just miss having you around,” Shane tells him.
“I’ll be around a lot since I’m moving in.” Austin chuckles.
“Why am I here?” Ever asks, eyeing the food.
I get up and make her a plate, and one for Memphis as well. I know he’s right behind her.
“London is no longer the bachelor,” Sal tells her. “We’re bringing in Austin.”
“Uncle Austin?” Ever asks, her brows rising in surprise.
“Yes.” Austin nods.
“I didn’t . . .”
“No one knew. I kept it quiet, but when I saw how you accepted London’s choices, I was going to talk to you. I was there when London got in the fight—”
“He got in a fight?” Memphis asks, cutting him off.
“Let Austin finish,” Ever hisses.
“Zipping it up.” Memphis chuckles.
“I was helping Beau with the beer trailer, and we ran over when we heard the commotion. I don’t know what led to the fight, but he messed that guy up pretty bad. I heard Sal tell him that he was done, and they would be bringing in another guy, so I volunteered.”